Brisbane has created one of the shocks of the AFL season, beating West Coast 13.13 (91) to 9.10 (64) at a stunned Subiaco Oval.

Ignoring tipsters and bookies across the country, Leigh Matthews' developing team hassled the Eagles out of their stride, while taking their chances at the other end.

Jonathan Brown shrugged off close attention to finish with four goals, with Jarred Brennan and Robert Copeland chipping in with three each.

And despite Mark Le Cras continuing his emerging season with four goals for the Eagles, the possessions of Chris Judd (35) and Daniel Kerr (33) counted for little in the club's second successive home loss.

Michael Braun's 200th game had also been expected to see Ben Cousins return, but a hamstring injury on Friday robbed the crowd of its anticipated feting of the controversial Brownlow medallist.

Cousins' appearance alongside the Eagles match committee before the game confirmed his reintegration into the West Coast family, with the former skipper given a rousing reception by the home fans.

But after that, the West Coast faithful were given little to shout about.

Wearing a shirt to commemorate Western Australia's first state-of-origin win over Victoria, the Eagles had been expected to replicate the 94-point win their founding fathers achieved against the Victorians in 1977.

But from the first minute, when Brisbane's decorated Sandgroper Simon Black goaled on the run, the Eagles knew they were in a game.

Diminutive Le Cras provided the Eagles spark with Brown being shut down by Darren Glass early.

Two goals in the quarter gave Eagles a 10-point buffer, with Brown taking just one mark.

A third Le Cras goal from tight on the boundary looked set to be the catalyst for the anticipated rout.

The Lions though, had not read the script.

Intense tackling and a fabulous workrate kept the visitors in the hunt, and they should have led at halftime if not for elementary misses from Wayde Mills, Rhan Hooper and Brennan.

Too many Eagles were having a sorry game.

Beau Waters was one such player, and the tough-nut backmen's night went from bad to worse after a sickening clash of heads with Brown.

Unlike the first term, the Lions made the most of their opportunities in the second and third quarters.

Matt Priddis' turnover allowed Notting to reduce the margin to two, before Wirrpanda's similar slip allowed Brennan to grab Brisbane the lead.

A stunned silence around Subiaco deepened throughout the last term, and after the Lions weathered an early storm, Copeland, Brown and Brennan ensured the Lions' first win in eight weeks - and their first in Perth since 2001.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP